Annual Report 2018-2019
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Annual Report 2018‐2019 Science Education Partnership A better world through hands‐on, minds‐on science education 2018‐2019: KEY ACHIEVEMENTS classrooms were visited by volunteer farmers for Canada Agriculture Day science kits were revamped science kit bookings were made by different of schools within the teachers at schools Lambton Kent and St. Clair Catholic Districts accessed SEP programs this year, volunteers were active in the impacting an estimated newly students reorganized Science Discovery Squad volunteer 30 classrooms participated in the program unveiled National Engineering Month in February Challenge. A new Virtual Volunteer activity format was piloted with great success Page 1 NEW IN 2019: INTRODUCING THE SCIENCE DISCOVERY SQUAD The 2018‐2019 school year brought about exciting changes to SEP volunteer initiatives. The very first SEP volunteer program, “Adopt‐a‐ Scientist”, began in 1995 when Imperial Oil retirees were asked if they would like to help in the classroom. Initially, volunteers could be “adopted” by teachers who would have them in on a regular basis, but it soon became evident that educators were asking for help repeatedly in the same subject areas. In response, volunteers created interactive, hands‐on presentations that could travel to from Superintendents Laura Callaghan and Ben Hazzard, along with SEP Technician Wendy Hooghiem, watch pie plates fly from a classroom to classroom. Van der Graaf machine generator with SDS volunteer Peter Smith. In 2004, volunteer activities expanded to include bridge‐building sessions that celebrated National Engineering Month and fit with the Structures and Mechanisms strand of the Ontario Curriculum. Between 25 and 40 classes have participated each year since. In 2015, local farmers were welcomed into the SEP volunteer force to share their knowledge of agricultural science and food production with students. Most recently, in 2017 volunteers with an interest in computer science have developed an introductory “coding” activity for students. The creation of the “Science Discovery Squad” in 2019 allows Grade five students work on creating their own the reorganization all these SEP volunteer elements into one video game. The new SDS Coding Division activity program with the cohesive purpose of connecting community was piloted throughout 2018‐2019. with classrooms! THANK YOU to our 2018‐2019 donors who make this program possible! Imperial Lambton Kent Agriculutre in the Classroom Corteva Agrisciences Sarnia Lambton Golden K Kiwanis Association of Professional Engineers of Ontario – Chatham Kent Chapter Association of Professional Engineers of Ontario – Lambton Chapter Page 2 There are currently FOUR DIVISIONS of the Science Discovery Squad, with room to grow in the future. The SCIENCE Division: There are 16 different hands‐on, curriculum‐ linked demonstrations spanning from Gr. 2 Simple Machines to Gr. 8 Fluids, and the many topics in‐between. Sessions are ongoing throughout the school year. The BRIDGE BUILDING Division: To celebrate National Engineering Month and learn about structures, Grade 5 students build bridges using wooden craft sticks and hot glue to a given set of Connecting Community with Classrooms specifications. The strongest bridges from each class face off in a final competition held annually in the spring of each year. The AGRICULTURE Division: Who better to talk to students about where their food comes from than the people that produce it? Some volunteers make visits throughout the year and others concentrate their volunteer efforts to help celebrate Canada Agriculture Day in February each year. The CODING Division: This is a brand‐new learning opportunity in where volunteers provide an introductory computer programming experience with, and without, the computer. Grade 5 students participate in the Bridge Building activity. Farmer Judy, an egg farmer from Grade 8 students load a volunteer‐ Petrolia, is a member of our built trebuchet. Agriculture Division. Page 3 Table of CONTENTS 2018‐2019 Summary ........................................................................................................................ 1 NEW IN 2019: Introducing the Science Discovery Squad Volunteer Program ................................ 2 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 5 Five Year Plan: Focus Area Reports ................................................................................................ 6 Overall Effectiveness Summary ..................................................................................................... 10 Appendix A: Looking Forward: Five Year Strategic Plan 2017‐2022 ............................................ 13 Appendix B: History of the SEP ...................................................................................................... 14 Appendix C: Science Kit Bookings per School ............................................................................... 18 Appendix D: Science Kit Booking by Kit Title ................................................................................. 19 Appendix E: Financial Report ........................................................................................................ 20 Appendix F: Science Education Partnership Steering Team 2018‐2019 ....................................... 21 Page 4 SCIENCE EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP: AN INTRODUCTION The Science Education Partnership (SEP), formed in 1992, consists of the Lambton Kent District School Board (LKDSB), the St. Clair Catholic District School Board (SCCDSB), local businesses, industries, and community partners. A historical time line of the SEP appears in Appendix B. The SEP was formed for the purpose of expanding and supporting a quality “Hands‐on, Minds‐on” science program for students from Kindergarten to Grade 8. All science education programs made available for teachers through the SEP provide students with learning opportunities that develop and encourage collaboration, creativity, problem solving, and science literacy through the use of hands‐on materials. It is recognized that these skills ultimately help our students to become more responsible and more successful adults in the working community. Our Mission: We are dedicated to supporting the elementary school science curriculum and teachers who inspire knowledgeable responsible and innovative students who are critical thinkers and become contributing members of society THE FOUR FOCUS AREAS OF THE SCIENCE EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP SCIENCE KIT PROGRAM: The SEP provides educators with hands‐on science materials and equipment in the form of education kits. All SEP kits support the grade level expectations as described in the “Ontario Curriculum, Grade 1‐8, Science and Technology (Revised 2007)”. SCIENCE DISCOVERY SQUAD VOLUNTEER PROGRAM: In February 2019, this newly reorganized SEP volunteer program was unveiled. The Science Discovery Squad was created to allow all SEP volunteer elements to come together in one cohesive program whose purpose is connecting community with classrooms. Volunteers with a background or interest in science visit classrooms to share their knowledge with students through interactive presentations. The four divisions of the program are; Agriculture, Bridge Building, Coding, and Science. PARTNERS: SEP business and community partners have strongly supported the partnership through both financial and human resources means over the past 26 years. This support is invaluable as provincial funding is insufficient for schools to purchase all of the science equipment that is required. The SEP continually seeks expansion through partner recruitment efforts and emphasizes partner recognition in all activities. SCIENCE RESOURCE CENTRE: The Science Resource Centre, located at Errol Road Public School in Sarnia, serves as the hub through which teachers can access all SEP science education programs Page 5 2018‐2019: Report on SCIENCE KITS ABOUT SCIENCE KITS The science kit program provides educators with “hands‐on, minds‐on” science materials and equipment in the form of educational kits. FIVE YEAR OBJECTIVES Align all kits with the Revised Science and Technology Ontario Curriculum to result in one updated kit per division per year Increase science kit program usage Increase science kit program awareness Total Annual Bookings 1641 Number of Schools Participating / Total Schools 76/79 For each school, number of teachers using kits vs. total See Appendix C number of classrooms at that school ACCOMPLISHED THIS YEAR As scheduled in the 2017‐2022 Five Year Plan, the following kits were updated; Gr. 3 Plants, Gr. 6 Flight, and Gr. 7 Heat. Communication continued to all schools via the SEP website (http://www.lkdsb.net/Elementary/ScienceEducationPartnership/Pages/default.aspx ) and the Twitter account @SEPSciCen, which were both updated regularly. The SEP annual report was presented to both School Boards in October 2018. Presentations regarding all SEP Programs, including science kits, were made to New Teacher Induction Participants, (NTIP). The Science Centre Technician attended and was part of a team that presented a session about the SEP at the Science Teachers’ Association of Ontario Conference in Nov. 2018. WHAT WE PLAN FOR NEXT YEAR Review and update designated titles for year 3 of the 5‐year plan: Gr. 1 Energy, Gr 4 Pulleys and Gears and Gr. 8 Water Systems. Continue to communicate with schools regularly via the website, Twitter, the LKDSB